Cribs in cribs: Young couples — with children in mind — are opting to buy downtown for its lifestyle

The idea of raising a family in the heart of Toronto may be gaining traction, but the availability of kid-friendly residences in the city core is still a challenge. That’s why Craig and Jaclyn Shaw snapped up a unit at Edition Richmond, a new townhome development on Richmond Street in the trendy Trinity Bellwoods park neighbourhood.

“We feel that Toronto is a great city to raise kids, a fun place with lots for kids to do,” says Ms. Shaw, 32, who runs Devlish Angelz, a kids clothing boutique of high-end brand names as well as funky threads from local designers. She sees more of the couple’s friends and people of their age opting to anchor their growing families deep in the city. “This is one of the main reasons I chose to open my business downtown,” she notes. “There are lots of kids’ specialty retailers popping up all over the downtown, from clothing shops to furniture stores to baby stores. As an entrepreneur, it’s important for my family to stay downtown and support other local entrepreneurs and small businesses, which includes the small coffee shops, the independent yoga studios offering mom-and-baby yoga classes, all the amazing restaurants and shopping.”

Mr. Shaw, 29, likes the small coffee shops, fine dining and casual eateries clustered around Edition Richmond. “People of our generation want to stay downtown in the heart of the action,” he says. “Here we can enjoy all the city has to offer, all within easy walking distance from our home. This is now part of our daily lifestyle.”

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Having lived in a one-bedroom unit at the Annex Loft Houses, an ideal location for singles and couples, the Shaws are ecstatic about moving into their new two-bedroom, 1,300-sq.-ft. “Sky Loft” model at Edition Richmond (editionrichmond.com). “The two-bedroom layout is a huge plus for us, as we are looking to start a family in the near future,” Ms. Shaw says.

“Trinity Bellwoods is a nice green space for walking our dog and a shady spot for picnics with kids,” she says.

Another attraction for the Shaws is the size of the building, with just 20 units. “I prefer the smaller buildings that are quiet and you know most of your neighbours, and it just seems more of a home,” says Mr. Shaw, who works in construction management. He says that he and his wife (they just married last October) appreciate Edition Richmond’s features, such as modern, open living spaces, lots of natural light (sunshine pours in from lightwells at the rear of each unit), soaker tubs, marble-clad bathrooms, Caesarstone countertops and large master showers. They are set to enjoy their 500-sq.-ft. rooftop deck and play area, too, which “faces the city with amazing views.”

Built by Curated Properties (curatedproperties.com), Edition Richmond has been designed by Audax Architecture and the interior designers Cecconi Simone.

“The inspiration for the architecture reflects the century row houses that characterize this area,” says Adam Ochshorn, who, with Curated Properties’ co-founder Gary Eisen, has steered the company’s main projects, doing infill custom home building since the late 1980s. “We saw a gap in the downtown market for family-friendly housing and that has driven the Edition Richmond vision, created to help fill that void.”

Edition Richmond’s dramatic rooftop archways accentuate the sleek vertical lines of the structure’s façade. The terraces draw the eye upward to the rooftop, where the archways provide privacy and shade. After dark, integrated LED lighting illuminates the space. “We’ve treated the terraces to be on a comfortable scale, a true extension of the living space, and to mark the building as a neighbourhood landmark,” says Gianpiero Pugliese, principal at Audax Architecture (which transformed the Shops at Summerhill). He describes the firm’s design philosophy as based on what he calls “human” architecture. “Particularly with contemporary projects, I like to maintain a hand-built quality and reference pre-industrial architecture, which uses a rich material palette.”

Mr. Pugliese emphasizes that he’s not a fan of the stark high-rise glass box. “Edition Richmond is different,” he says. “Everything the young family needs is here.” He points to details such as 18-foot ceilings, eat-in kitchen with island, gas stove, built-in refrigerator, hardwood flooring and vanities with ample storage that’s seamlessly integrated into the design.

“We both love this neighbourhood,” Curated’s Mr. Eisen says, “and when we first saw this hidden pocket we knew right away it was special.”

The Shaws are eager to embark on raising their own mini-fashionistas. “We’re looking forward to skating outdoors, rollerblading along the waterfront, going to the ROM to see the dinosaur exhibit, getting groceries in Kensington market,” Ms. Shaw says. “This is a downtown neighbourhood tailored for families.”

Just four of these brand new, easy-maintenance units remain at Edition Richmond, including a 1,560-sq.-ft. two-bedroom-plus-loft (at about $830,000), and a 2,000-sq.-ft. three-bedroom (at about $1,050,000).